Ch 92: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

Jiang Ji’s textile workshop is hiring!

Old Wang delivered a recruitment notice to every nearby village, and the news spread like wildfire.

“Someone read it out, what kind of jobs are there?”

“Lots. Cleaning workers, cotton ginning workers, preliminary spinning, yarn spinning, dyeing, weaving… They’re even hiring a gatekeeper, a cook, and cleaners.”

“They’re hiring a cook too? Do they provide meals?”

“They provide lunch. It says the cook only needs to make the midday meal. Once that’s done, they can go home. It’s considered part-time.”

“Are they hiring men?”

“Yes. Gatekeeping, dyeing, cotton ginning, and cooking can all be done by men. But most of the other positions are for women.”

“How much is the pay? Old Du, hurry and read the pay!”

“The pay depends on the job. The lowest is cleaning, eight hundred wen a month. The highest isn’t specified. It says there are two types: some jobs like cleaning and cooking have fixed monthly wages, while others are paid by piecework. The more you do, the more you earn. For example, weavers have a base salary and a required monthly quota. Anything beyond that is paid per bolt of cloth. If someone weaves ten bolts a month and you weave twelve, you earn more than them.”

“Oh, that’s good, that’s good!”

“It also says those who know dyeing, spinning, or weaving will be given priority. Hey, I can weave! I’m going to try!”

“I can spin and weave too, I’m going!”

On the day of recruitment interviews, villagers from nearby areas came one after another to Shanqian Village. The textile workshop had even built a road connecting directly to the main rural road, so it was easy to spot.

At the entrance hung a plaque reading: Changping Textile Workshop. Inside, buildings lined three sides of a large courtyard.

“I’ve passed by before, but I didn’t realize it was this big.”

“Changping Textile Workshop… why didn’t the Duke pick a nicer name?”

“Isn’t this good? In the future, when people hear the name, they’ll know exactly where the cloth comes from.”

“Not to mention, with the promotion of rice seeds and sweet potatoes, our Changping County is already getting known across the prefecture. By next year, the whole Da Sheng will probably know us. If it had some other name, people wouldn’t know where the cloth came from. This name is actually better.”

“That makes sense.”

A large crowd gathered outside for interviews, chatting and laughing. The line snaked far out, easily three to four hundred people.

According to the recruitment notice, applicants were both men and women, aged between sixteen and forty-five.

Lu Wen and Lu Jiu sat at tables by the gate, registering information, while guards maintained order.

“Line up properly, two rows!” Old Wang shouted through a paper tube. “Don’t push, don’t rush. Hey, auntie, how old are you?”

“F-forty-four,” the woman replied, eyes flickering guiltily.

Old Wang, sharp as ever, saw right through her. “Let me see your household register.”

“…I didn’t bring it.”

“Aunt Zhu, you’re already forty-eight. Stay home and enjoy your rest,” someone said.

She shot that person a glare. “No one asked you to speak.”

Old Wang sighed. “Auntie, the notice clearly says under forty-five. Even if you queue, you won’t pass later. Let’s not waste the effort, alright?”

She grew anxious. “Just because I’m a few years older doesn’t mean I’m weak. I’m still strong!”

“Auntie, the work here is four hours a day and quite tiring. We really can’t take you. Please head back.”

As he spoke, he noticed a young girl who looked only thirteen or fourteen.

He raised his voice again, “Anyone who doesn’t meet the age requirement, don’t line up. It’ll just be a wasted effort. See up front? They’ll verify age with your household register. You can’t fake it.”

After that, over a dozen people sighed and stepped out of the line, including the young girl.

Following Jiang Ji’s instructions, Lu Jiu and Lu Wen carefully recorded each applicant’s details: name, gender, age, village, job preference, experience, and skills.

Once registered, applicants took their forms inside for interviews.

The interviewers were Jiang Ji and Lu Shun. Jiang Ji asked the questions, while Lu Shun recorded.

Jiang Ji was thorough. When someone had experience, he asked more detailed questions to gauge their skill level.

This was only the initial round. By the end of the day, they had interviewed several hundred people and selected a group of candidates.

That night, Jiang Ji reviewed the thick stack of interview records with Lu Shun, discussing each one. He also consulted Zhao Ru about their character and conduct, finalizing the non-technical positions first.

On the second day, candidates for technical roles were called back for a second round, where they demonstrated their skills. Spinners spun, dyers dyed, weavers wove.

Previously, sixteen workers had already been cleaning and ginning cotton. Some of them also knew spinning and weaving, like Aunt Xiufang. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Jiang Ji had evaluated them and reassigned some to better positions. They were delighted, as spinning and weaving paid more than cotton cleaning.

In the end, sixty-eight people were hired.

Jiang Ji had Lu Shun arrange for notifications and inform them of their start date.

On the fourth day, the textile workshop officially began operations.

Everyone arrived on time.

Jiang Ji even held an opening ceremony. As he personally started the spinning machine, firecrackers exploded outside in celebration.

The rollers began turning. Dozens of spindles spun together, and before long, coarse fibers were transformed into fine yarn.

Those experienced in textile work were stunned.

“It can spin several threads at once!”

“Heavens, what kind of machine is this?!”

“No wonder they only hired a few spinners. I was worried spinning wouldn’t keep up with weaving—now I see why!”

“Look at that thread, it’s so fine.”

“Finer thread means softer cloth!”

“And the Duke even knows how to spin!”

Everyone stared at Jiang Ji, astonished not only by the machine but also that he knew how to operate it.

An older woman asked curiously, “Your Grace, did you invent this machine?”

There seemed no other explanation.

Jiang Ji couldn’t really explain its origin, so he simply nodded.

“Yes.”

The crowd was utterly shocked.

After the opening ceremony, Jiang Ji clapped his hands and gathered everyone in the courtyard to go over the workshop rules.

“…That’s roughly it. Each workroom will have its own posted rules and requirements. For the first half month after starting, each team leader will review them with you every morning. We’re a textile workshop dealing with cotton and cloth, so moisture prevention and fire safety are critical. Make sure you remember this well. Safe production comes first.”

“Alright, everyone return to your posts. Team leaders will teach you how to operate. The spinning, dyeing, and weaving groups will follow me and my mother for training over the next few days.”

Each team leader led their group back to their respective workrooms and began training.

Cleaning and cotton ginning were relatively simple. After explaining the requirements and demonstrating once, people could quickly get started. Preliminary spinning also wasn’t demanding, just turning cotton into slivers and then into coarse yarn.

The real technical work lay in three key stages: learning to use the spinning machine, mastering high-standard dyeing, and learning new weaving patterns.

Zhao Ru taught the workers how to use the spinning machine, while Jiang Ji handled dyeing.

The weaving group first used yarn previously spun by Zhao Ru to weave plain white cloth. This was already in high demand, as undergarments in this era were typically made from white fabric.

By the end of the first day, although there were some minor issues, things had gone fairly smoothly. The first few days were mainly about adjusting and getting all departments running in sync.

In the evening, when it was time to stop, Lu Shun struck a gong outside. Everyone set down their work. Those on piece-rate recorded how much they had completed that day, while the rest headed home.

“Lihua, how’s it going on your side?”

“We’re still learning that spinning machine. What about you?”

“It actually feels pretty easy.”

“That cotton ginning machine is amazing. So fast, way quicker than doing it by hand.”

“I’m telling you, the cloth we weave is so soft, more comfortable than what they sell in the city.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, the thread is so fine. It weaves beautifully. I still had some cotton at home to weave myself, but now I’m thinking I’ll just buy from here instead. I wonder how much a bolt will cost? It’ll definitely feel great to wear.”

“The Duke is really capable. I’ve never even seen those machines before.”

“Well, that’s why he’s a Duke.”

Jiang Ji and Zhao Ru were not far behind them, overhearing the conversation. They both smiled.

“Seems like everyone is quite satisfied,” Zhao Ru said.

Jiang Ji nodded. “Mm.”

After all the workers had left, Jiang Ji gathered the team leaders for a short meeting, asking about each group’s situation.

They reported their issues, and Jiang Ji immediately gave solutions before dismissing them to go home.

Early the next morning, Han Qingshan and his group prepared to depart for the capital.

For the past half year, Doctor Yang had been treating Zhao Ru. Even on the trip, she would continue taking the pills he prepared. Her health had improved significantly, and aside from catching a chill once in early autumn, she had remained well.

Doctor Yang left her plenty of pills and a prescription. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Once the pills ran out, they could simply follow the prescription to continue treatment until reaching the capital.

Jiang Ji tried to pay him, but Doctor Yang refused.

“I was invited here by Minister Lu. He already paid me. Besides, I’ve been eating and staying here for half a year, even gained some weight. I’ve been well taken care of.”

Jiang Ji had no choice but to load several sacks of rice and sweet potatoes onto Doctor Yang’s carriage.

“Ah, this is good, this is good,” Doctor Yang said cheerfully. “This gift I like. Then I’ll thank Your Grace.”

“You’re too polite,” Jiang Ji replied with a smile. “In half a year, our family will also move to the capital. We’ll visit you then.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Doctor Yang said, stroking his beard.

“Oh, right,” Jiang Ji added, “Uncle Han will be opening a restaurant in the capital in about three months, on Kaiyuan Street. It’ll be called ‘Fresh Flavor House.’ Bring your family anytime. I’ve already told him.”

“Good, good, then I won’t be polite,” Doctor Yang said. After all, what he would miss most was the food from Jiang Ji’s household.

Han Qingshan’s family of three knelt and bowed to Jiang Ji and Zhao Ru.

“Young Master, Madam, we’ll wait for you in the capital. We’ll run the restaurant well.”

“Go on,” Jiang Ji instructed. “If you run into problems you can’t solve, don’t force it. Go find the Regent.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Ji took out a letter and handed it to him. “This is for the Regent. Please deliver it.”

“Of course.”

“I have one too,” Xia’er said, taking out a letter. “This is for Madam Lu. Thank you, Uncle Han.”

“You’re too kind, Miss. I’ll deliver it.”

They boarded the carriage. Two guards climbed up as well. After a final farewell, the reins were snapped.

The carriage slowly left the village, heading north.

That afternoon, Lu Jiu suddenly rushed into the textile workshop with a letter and found Jiang Ji in the weaving room.

“Young Master, a letter from the Regent.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. He immediately ran out. “Quick, give it to me.”

Taking the letter, he opened it eagerly, a smile tugging at his lips the entire time.

The letter had been written on the fifth day after Jiang Ji’s departure, when they had not yet reached home.

Though Lu Huaizhou was not a man of many words, the letter filled two full pages.

He wrote that Madam Lu often mentioned Zhao Ru and Jiang Xia, that Lu Huaichuan kept visiting to ask the cook for good food, and that the vegetables outside the city were growing well, though one plot had issues with yellowing leaves, possibly from too much fertilizer or overwatering.

He also mentioned that Steward Zhong had found someone experienced in textile management named Meng Dahai, who would be coming to Changping with his family and carrying this letter along.

Only at the end did Lu Huaizhou write that returning home without Jiang Ji felt unfamiliar, and that he missed him deeply.

Jiang Ji’s lips curved upward. He reread that last part twice before looking up.

“Has someone named Meng Dahai arrived?”

“Yes, Young Master. He said the Regent sent him to find you. He brought his wife and child.”

“Good. He’s the factory manager I’ve been waiting for,” Jiang Ji said, pleased. “Come on, let’s go meet our manager.”

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾

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